IP: Bell Labs Develops Global Roaming Software

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com>
> To: "Dewayne-Net Technology List" <dewayne-net () warpspeed com>
>
> Bell Labs Develops Global Roaming Software
>
> Summary:
>
> Researchers at Bell Labs announced a software breakthrough they say will 
> enable global roaming across all wireless network types, including 3G. The 
> software architecture, called Common Operations (COPS), will allow 
> subscribers to access voice and data services, information and messages 
> when they roam, even in regions where different networks predominate. 
> Mobile operators will be able to upgrade and manage their networks more 
> efficiently, to improve operational performance, and to reduce errors and 
> expenses. COPS reportedly provides a generic interface to key HLR 
> functions, translating user data and signaling technologies from cellular 
> protocols to IP and back automatically.
>
> Full Article:
>
> MURRAY HILL, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 9, 2001--Researchers at Bell 
> Labs, the research and development arm of Lucent Technologies (NYSE:LU - 
> news ), have announced a software breakthrough that will enable global 
> roaming across all wireless network types, including third-generation (3G) 
> technologies such as CDMA2000, Universal Mobile Telecommunications 
> Services (UMTS) and other high-speed data access technologies such as 802.11.
>
> The software architecture, called Common Operations (COPS), will allow 
> mobile subscribers to access voice and data services, information, and 
> messages when they are roaming outside of their home network, even in 
> regions where different types of wireless networks predominate. It will 
> also help mobile operators to upgrade and manage their networks more 
> efficiently, improve operational performance, and reduce errors and expenses.
>
> COPS features a unique ``protocol gateway'' capability that translates 
> data from networks employing a variety of protocols into a single, common 
> language. This makes it possible to maintain a single subscriber profile 
> -- including authentication, authorization and location data -- that can 
> be accessed from a variety of network types.
>
> ``As next-generation high-speed mobile data networks emerge and new mobile 
> Internet services are introduced, IP and cellular systems must be able to 
> route calls and deliver services to one another efficiently,'' said Paul 
> Mankiewich, chief technology officer of Lucent's Mobility Solutions Group. 
> ``This breakthrough from Bell Labs will, in the near future, help mobile 
> operators to meet the demand for high-bandwidth services from increasingly 
> mobile subscribers.''
>
> Global wireless roaming is not possible today because various wireless 
> network types cannot work together to identify, electronically, the 
> location of mobile subscribers. For example, a subscriber whose mobile 
> operator uses Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology is not 
> currently able to access services when roaming on a Global System for 
> Mobile Communications (GSM) network.
>
> For a subscriber to initiate a mobile call or activate services such as 
> voicemail, the wireless network must be able to identify the subscriber's 
> location, obtain the subscriber's profile (listing the allowed services), 
> validate the caller's right to the services and then authenticate the 
> caller. Home location registers (HLRs), which are databases of subscriber 
> information, currently perform these functions only when wireless 
> subscribers travel in their home networks, or -- in some cases -- when 
> roaming on networks employing similar technology.
>
> COPS provides a generic interface to key HLR functions, translating user 
> data and signaling technologies from cellular protocols to Internet 
> protocols (IP) and vice versa automatically. This allows several 
> protocol-specific gateways to be built, each allowing data stored on the 
> HLR to be accessed by a different type of network. Building an HLR with 
> this software architecture allows for customer databases that can be 
> updated automatically, accessed by multiple network types, and support 
> both voice and high-speed data services.
>
> With COPS, if a mobile operator were to change the type of signaling 
> protocols used on the telecommunications switches of a particular network, 
> the HLR associated with the previous signaling protocol would still be 
> able to communicate with the network. This would allow operators to 
> provide services across multiple network types without interruptions or 
> the addition of multiple HLRs.
>
> ``With this technology breakthrough, carriers will be able to more easily 
> migrate from one network protocol to another without replacing the HLR. 
> Additionally, callers will be able to use their phones the same way on a 
> guest network -- including networks in other countries and regions -- that 
> they do at home,'' said Krishan Sabnani, vice president of Bell Labs' 
> Networking Research Laboratory.
>
> With approximately 16,000 employees in 16 countries, Bell Labs is the 
> leading source of new communications technologies. Bell Labs has generated 
> more than 28,000 patents since 1925 and has played a pivotal role in 
> inventing or perfecting key communications technologies, including 
> transistors, digital networking and signal processing, lasers and 
> fiber-optic communications systems, communications satellites, cellular 
> telephony, electronic switching of calls, touch-tone dialing, and modems. 
> Bell Labs scientists have received six Nobel Prizes in Physics, nine U.S. 
> Medals of Science and six U.S. Medals of Technology. For more information 
> about Bell Labs, visit its Web site at http://www.bell-labs.com.
>
> Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J., USA, designs and 
> delivers networks for the world's largest communications service 
> providers. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, Lucent relies on 
> its strengths in mobility, optical, data and voice networking technologies 
> as well as software and services to develop next-generation networks. The 
> company's systems, services and software are designed to help customers 
> quickly deploy and better manage their networks and create new, 
> revenue-generating services that help businesses and consumers. For more 
> information on Lucent Technologies, visit its Web site at 
> http://www.lucent.com.



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